Saksa on Team Yandex: “They’re great guys; there’s just a positive vibe around them. I feel very comfortable.”
Team Yandex support player Martin “Saksa” Sazdov spoke with Hotspawn about playing for the team, the state of the professional Dota 2 scene, and how the Esports World Cup compares to The International.
About Team Yandex
I think it’s a very laid-back team. They’re easy to play with—they’re great guys, and there’s just a positive vibe around them. I feel really comfortable. There’s no pressure at all, nothing at all. You just show up, play your game—and that’s it. It’s very pleasant and relaxed.
On what Dota 2 has taught me
Definitely. Patience is one of the most important things. I think you need to know when to just let a situation go, because a lot is happening, and sometimes you need to put it behind you and focus on the next moment. Patience is a big part of that. You also need to be able to trust your teammates to do their jobs and accept when others make mistakes. I think that definitely helps you grow as a person.
On the State of the Professional Dota 2 Scene
Perhaps it’s not so much about the game itself as it is about the tournament formats—they could use some changes. We’ve had stretches like a month and a half without any tournaments, and then suddenly four competitions in a row. I think it would be nice to go back to the old system: two or three Majors a year, followed by The International. That way, there’s one big tournament that everything gradually builds up to. Smaller tournaments could be held in between.
I think it would be more interesting for viewers, too: every few months, you know a Major is coming up, and you can look forward to it with great anticipation. But right now, it’s one tournament after another without a break, and maybe that’s why people are losing interest.
On Leaving Tundra Esports
I had personal disagreements with one player on the team—33. That’s essentially the main reason why I left. It was impossible to keep playing with that roster. The atmosphere was, you could say, dead. Bridges had been burned, and it was no longer possible to keep playing together. [Do you talk to him now?] No, I’m afraid that bridge has been burned for good.
On the difference between DM and Noticed
I think the difference is mainly in the heroes they prefer. Noticed likes certain characters, DM likes others. So I have to adapt to their heroes and make sure everything works. But mechanically, they’re both very strong players, so I don’t see much of a difference.
On Comparing the Esports World Cup and The International
I don’t think anything can reach TI’s level. It has too much history, and this tournament is very important to people. As for the EWC, I’m not sure what they can do to reach that level. Right now, it feels like this: there are regular tournaments, maybe there’s the EWC, but TI stands head and shoulders above all the rest. So yeah, the feeling is similar.
Earlier, Martin “Saksa” Sazdov shared the team’s immediate plans after the tournament in an interview at the Esports World Cup 2026: “I think we’ll take a week off, regroup, and prepare for The International.”
